CN110545698A - Curtain and Hook Assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

A curtain hook assembly is disclosed that includes a backing plate secured to a curtain and a curtain hook rotatably mounted on the backing plate. During packaging, the shade hook may be rotated from a flat position against the shade to an extended position to hang on the shade rod. The lower hook may optionally be integrally or rotatably attached to the backing plate.

Description

Curtain and Hook Assemblies

Cross References to Related Applications

This application claims priority to US Provisional Application No. 62/485,086, filed April 13, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference.

technical field

The present invention relates to curtain hook assemblies, and more particularly to hooks attached to curtains or shower curtains.

Background technique

Most curtains, shower curtains and shower liners are sold separately with the curtain hooks. This creates the hassle of assembling the shade to the hook prior to installing the shade and hook combination on the curtain rod or shower rod.

Contents of the invention

The present invention provides a hook assembly that is attached to the shade and that is rotatable during packaging from a lay-flat position against the shade to an extended position for hanging from a shade rod. The upper curtain hook is rotatably mounted on a backing plate fixed to the curtain. The lower hook may optionally be integrally or rotatably attached to the backing plate.

An aspect of the present invention provides a shade and hook assembly comprising a shade, a backing plate secured to the shade, and a shade hook rotatably mounted on the backing plate and extending upwardly from the backing plate, Wherein the shade hook is rotatable from a retracted position in which the plane defined by the shade hook is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the shade to an extended position in which the plane defined by the shade hook is substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the curtain.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a shade hook for fixing to a shade, the shade hook comprising: a backing plate having a back surface configured and arranged to contact the shade and an upwardly extending connecting pin; a shade hook rotatably mounted on the backing plate, the shade hook including a retaining cup adjacent a bottom of the shade hook, wherein the attachment pin is received within the retaining cup to allow the shade hook to rotate about an axis defined by the attachment pin Rotate and keep the curtain hook from moving relative to the backing plate along the axis of the connecting pin.

These and other aspects of the invention will be more apparent from the description below.

Description of drawings

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a shade hook assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a front view of a shade hook for use in a shade hook assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, the shade hook including a backing plate and a rotatable shade hook;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the backing plate and the curtain hook of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along section 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Figure 5 is an isometric view of a backing plate including an underlining hook in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a front view of the backing plate of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side view of the backing plate of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a top view of the backing plate of Figure 5;

9 is a side view of an upper curtain hook for use in a curtain hook assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 10 is a front view of the curtain hook of Figure 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken through section 10-10 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a bottom view of the curtain hook of Fig. 9;

Figure 13 is an isometric view of a shade hook assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention;

14 is an isometric view of a shade hook assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the shade hook is oriented laying flat against the shade;

15 is an isometric view of the shade hook assembly shown in FIG. 14 with the shade hook rotated from a flat position against the shade to an extended position for mounting the shade hook on the shade rod;

Figure 16 is an isometric view of a shade hook assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 17 is an exploded isometric view showing the shade hook assembly of Figure 16 installed on a shade;

18 is a side view of components of the shade hook assembly of FIG. 16;

19 is a front view of components of the shade hook assembly of FIG. 16;

20 is a top view of components of the shade hook assembly of FIG. 16;

21 is a top view of the locking knob of the shade hook assembly of FIG. 16;

Figure 22 is an isometric view of the backing plate, lower hook and locking knob of the shade hook assembly of Figure 16;

23 is an isometric view of the backing plate, lower hook, and locking knob of FIG. 22, with the locking knob rotated relative to the backing plate to a locked position.

Detailed ways

The present invention provides a curtain hook assembly that can be attached to a window or shower curtain. In some embodiments, the hooks can be pre-assembled and packaged with the shade for sale and use. In other embodiments, the hooks may be provided separately from the shower curtain for user assembly.

1 to 12 illustrate features of a curtain hook assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , the curtain hook assembly 10 includes a shower curtain or window covering 12 , a backing plate 20 , a curtain hook 30 and a lower hook 40 . Curtain 12 may have any suitable construction and may be constructed of any suitable material construction conventionally used for curtains, curtain liners, shower curtains and shower curtain liners, including fabrics and polymeric sheets.

As shown in FIGS. 2-8 , the backing plate 20 includes a front side 21 , a back side 22 and vertical support ribs 23 on the front side 21 . Backing plate 20 may be secured to shade 12 by any suitable means (eg, sewing, mechanical fasteners, conventional adhesives, etc.). Connecting pin 24 extends upwardly from backing plate 20 and includes opposing resilient securing tabs 25 . In the illustrated embodiment, mounting holes 27 are provided through the backing plate 20 for sewing or otherwise securing the backing plate 20 to the shade 12 . The lower hook 40 extends downwardly from the backing plate 20 and has a lower hook end 44 . In the illustrated embodiment, the lower hook 40 is integrally formed with the backing plate 20 . However, as described in more detail below, in some embodiments, the lower hook may be rotatably mounted on the backing plate.

As shown in FIG. 2-12 , the connecting pin 24 and the elastic fixing tab 25 of the backing plate 20 are inserted into the retaining cup 31 at the bottom of the curtain hook 30 . The retaining cup 31 includes a tab receiving interior area 32 and a restricted opening at the bottom of the cup 31 . Side openings 34 are provided on the sides of the retaining cup 31 , which can be used to access the elastic retainer 25 in case of removal from the retaining cup 31 and/or during its injection molding process, for example. The manufacturing of the retaining cup 31 and the hook 30 is facilitated.

The shade hook 30 includes an end 37, a ball 38 and a retainer 39 for retaining the ball 38 on the shade hook 30, as shown in Figures 2-4 and 9-12. Although balls are shown, it should be understood that any other suitable roller shape could be used, such as a cylinder or barrel, or that the roller could be eliminated.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-12 , the shade hook 30 is rotatably mounted on the backing plate 20 by engagement of the connecting pin 24 and the retaining cup 25 within the retaining cup 31 . As best seen in FIG. 4 , the resilient securing tab 25 is located within a tab-receiving inner region 32 of the retaining cup 31 and is resiliently secured by a restricted opening 33 at the bottom of the retaining cup 31 . When the shade hook 30 is secured to a curtain rod (not shown), the shade hook 30 may be oriented as shown in FIG. 1 . The shade hook 30 is movable from a position where the shade hook 30 lies flat on the shade 12 or in a plane parallel to the shade 12 to the position shown in FIG. 1 . For example, the shade hook 30 may be packaged in a flat position relative to the shade 12 and then rotated 90° to the position shown in FIG. 1 for attachment to the shade rod. When installed, the lower hooks 40 may be used to hang a shower curtain liner (not shown) where the curtain 12 is a shower curtain. Alternatively, where shade 12 is a curtain, a curtain liner (not shown) may hang from lower hooks 40 to provide additional room darkening.

A shade hook assembly 110 according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 13 . In this embodiment, the lower hook 40 is removed from the backing plate 120, while the components of the shade hook 30 shown in FIG. 13 and the remaining features of the backing plate 120 may be the same as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-12. In this embodiment, the backing plate 120 may be sewn or otherwise attached to the shade 12 by a thread extending through the mounting holes 27 of the backing plate 120 .

Figures 14 and 15 illustrate a shade hook assembly 110 as shown in Figure 13, but wherein the upwardly extending portion of the shade 12 includes a retaining ring 14 attached to the shade 12 by means of sewing, adhesive, or the like. In FIG. 14 , the shade hook 30 lies flat on the shade 12 , such as when the shade hook assembly 112 is packaged. exist

In FIG. 15 , the shade hook 30 has been rotated 90° about a vertical axis to a position where the shade hook 30 is substantially perpendicular to the shade 12 . Thus, the shade hook 30 is able to rotate from a retracted position in which the plane defined by the shade hook 30 is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the shade 12 to an extended position in which the shade hook 30 The defined plane is substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the shade 12 . In the extended position shown in FIG. 15 , the upper portion of the shade 12 is held adjacent the shade hook 30 by the retaining ring 14 . When the shade hook 30 is in the position shown in FIG. 15 and mounted on a curtain rod (not shown), the retaining ring 14 helps to keep the upper portion of the shade 12 in an upright position so as to partially or completely cover the shade hook 30. In order not to see the curtain hook from the front of the curtain 12. The retaining ring 14 also helps to secure the shade 12 to lie flat against the hook 30 when in the position shown in FIG. 14 .

A typical length of the retaining ring 14 may match the width of the hook 30 measured in the plane defined by the hook 30 , eg, as shown in FIG. 14 . For example, the length of the retaining loop 14 may be 50% to 150%, or 80% to 120%, or 90% to 110% of the width of the hook 30 . The retaining ring 14 is generally located on the shade at a height corresponding generally to the midpoint of the hook, eg, as shown in FIG. 14 . For example, the retaining ring 14 may have a width, and the midpoint of the hook 30 may lie within the width of the retaining ring 14 or slightly above the retaining ring 14 .

16-23 illustrate a shade hook assembly 210 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The shade hook assembly 210 includes a slotted backing plate 220 having a front face 221 and a slot 222 extending through the slotted backing plate. Protruding stop tabs 223 extend from the front face 221 of the slotted backing plate 220 . Locking protrusions 228 extend from the front face 221 of the slotted backing plate 220 .

A generally cylindrical upper connection pin 224 extends upwardly from the slotted backing plate 220 . An upper elastic fixing tab 225 is provided at the top of the upper connecting pin 224 . The shade hook 30 is rotatably connected to the slotted backing plate 220 through an upper connection pin 224 and an upper elastic fixing tab 225 extending into the retaining cup 31 of the shade hook 30 . The retaining cup 31 shown in Figures 16-23 is similar to the retaining cup 31 shown in the previous embodiments.

Extending from the bottom of the backing plate 220 is a generally cylindrical lower connection pin 226 . A lower elastic fixing tab 227 is provided at the bottom of the lower connection pin 226 . The lower hook 240 is rotatably attached to the slotted backing plate 220 by means of a lower retaining cup 241 having a tab receiving area 242 and a restricting opening 243 . Accordingly, lower hook 240 is rotatable from a retracted position in which a plane defined by lower hook 240 is substantially parallel to a plane defined by shade 212 to an extended position in which a plane defined by lower hook 240 The plane of is substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the curtain 212. On the side of the lower retaining cup 241 there is provided a side opening 245 which can be used to access the resilient securing tab 227 in case removal from the lower retaining cup 241 is required and/or for example during an injection molding process. The manufacturing of the retaining cup 241 and the lower hook 240 is facilitated.

As best shown in FIGS. 17-23 , the shade hook assembly 210 includes a locking knob 250 having a front 251 and a back 252 . A generally cylindrical locking stud 253 extends from the rear face 252 and includes a T-shaped locking arm 254 . While the front face 251 of the locking knob 250 is shown in this embodiment as being generally hemispherical, it should be understood that any other suitable shape or decoration could be used.

Shade hook assembly 210 may be secured to shade 212 by inserting locking stud 253 and arm 254 through slot 214 in shade 212 as shown in FIGS. 17 , 22 and 23 . In the orientation shown in FIGS. 17 and 22 , the locking arm 254 fits through the slot 222 of the slotted backing plate 220 . Once the locking knob 250 and locking arm 254 are in the position shown in FIG. 22, the locking knob 250 can be rotated to a locked position as shown by the arrow in FIG. Protruding stop tab 223 of slot backing plate 220 . In the locked position shown in FIG. 23 , the locking knob 250 is held against the slotted backing plate 220 , thereby securing the shade hook assembly 210 to the shade 212 .

The components of the hook assemblies described herein may be made from any suitable material, including plastic, metal, metal-coated plastic, and combinations thereof. For example, the components of the curtain and shower curtain hook assembly can be made entirely of plastic, or the backing plate can be made of plastic, and the upper curtain hook can be made of metal or metal-coated plastic, such as when the curtain is hung from The room can be seen in the area of the curtain hook.

As used herein, in the context of the present application, "having", "comprising" and similar terms should be understood as being synonymous with "comprising", are therefore open-ended, and do not exclude the existence of additional undescribed or unstated terms. Component, material, phase or method step. As used herein, "consisting of" in the context of this application is understood to exclude the presence of any unspecified element, material, stage or method step. As used herein, "consisting essentially of" in the context of this application should be understood to include, where applicable, the specified elements, materials, stages or methods and also to include basic or novel elements that do not materially affect the present invention. Any unspecified element, material, phase or method step of a characteristic.

In this application, the use of the singular includes the plural and the plural includes the singular unless specifically stated otherwise. In addition, in the present application, even though "and/or" may be explicitly used in some cases, the use of "or" means "and/or" unless otherwise explicitly stated. In this application and the appended claims, the articles "a" and "the" include plural referents unless clearly and distinctly limited to a single referent.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described above for purposes of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the details of the invention without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims. Variety.

Claims (20)

1. A shade and hook assembly comprising: curtain; a backing plate secured to said shade; and a shade hook rotatably mounted on the backing plate and extending upwardly from the backing plate, wherein the shade hook is rotatable from a retracted position to an extended position in which the A plane defined by the shade hooks is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the shade, and in the extended position the plane defined by the shade hooks is substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the shade. 2. The shade and hook assembly of claim 1, wherein the shade hook is rotatably mounted on the backing plate by a connecting pin extending from the backing plate or the shade hook, the connecting pin Received within a retaining cup in the shade hook or in the backing plate. 3. The shade and hook assembly of claim 1, wherein the shade hook is rotatably mounted to the backing plate by a link pin extending upwardly from the link plate, the link pin being received adjacent to The bottom of the curtain hook is held in the cup. 4. The shade and hook assembly of claim 3, further comprising opposing resilient securing tabs at an upper end of said connecting pin, said opposing resilient securing tabs being retained in said retaining cup. The tab is received within the interior region and the connecting pin extends through the lower limiting opening of the retaining cup. 5. The shade and hook assembly of claim 4, wherein said opposing resilient securing tabs are removable from said retaining cup. 6. The shade and hook assembly of claim 1, wherein the backing plate is secured to the shade by stitching. 7. The shade and hook assembly of claim 1, wherein the backing plate is secured to the shade by an adhesive. 8. The shade and hook assembly of claim 1, wherein the backing plate is secured to the shade by a knob comprising a stud passing through the shade. 9. The shade and hook assembly of claim 1, further comprising a lower hook connected to the backing plate. 10. The shade and hook assembly of claim 9, wherein the lower hook is integrally formed with the backing plate. 11. The shade and hook assembly of claim 9, wherein the lower hook is rotatably mounted on the backing plate. 12. The shade and hook assembly of claim 11, wherein the lower hook is rotatable from a retracted position to an extended position in which a plane defined by the lower hook is aligned with the plane defined by the shade. The planes defined by the lower hooks are substantially parallel to the plane defined by the shade in the extended position. 13. The shade and hook assembly of claim 1, wherein the shade includes an upper extension having a retaining ring attached thereto, and the shade hook is inserted into the retaining ring. in the ring. 14. The shade and hook assembly of claim 13, wherein the length of the retaining ring is 50% to 150% of the width of the shade hook measured in the plane of the shade hook. 15. A shade hook for securing to a shade comprising: a backing plate having a back surface constructed and arranged to contact the shade and upwardly extending attachment pins; and a shade hook rotatably mounted on the backing plate and including a retaining cup adjacent a bottom portion of the shade hook, wherein the connecting pin is received within the retaining cup to Rotation of the shade hook about an axis defined by the connecting pin is permitted and the shade hook is held against relative movement along the axis of the connecting pin relative to the backing plate. 16. The shade hook of claim 15, further comprising opposing resilient securing tabs at the upper end of the connecting pin, the opposing resilient securing tabs being retained on the tabs of the retaining cup. Received within the interior area, and the connecting pin extends through the lower limiting opening of the retaining cup. 17. The shade hook of claim 16, wherein the opposed resilient securing tabs are removable from the retaining cup. 18. The shade hook of claim 15, further comprising a lower hook connected to the backing plate. 19. The shade hook of claim 18, wherein the lower hook is integrally formed with the backing plate. 20. The shade hook of claim 18, wherein the lower hook is rotatably mounted on the backing plate.